View full sizeBusinessman and Auburn University trustee Jimmy Rane dressed for a commercial as the Yella Fella. He said as Yella Fella he'd likely be tougher than the law on poisoning suspect Havey Updyke.(Great Southern Wood)

Great Southern Wood CEO and Auburn trustee Jimmy Rane said this afternoon that he is "devastated" about the poisoned Toomer's Corner trees.

Rane, speaking to the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce at Birmingham Country Club, said the trees are "an integral part of Auburn" and that those responsible should be "prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

Rane, famous for his "Yella Fella" commercials, said he was speaking as a trustee.

"Yella Fella would deal with that gentleman in a different way," he said.

Rane also told the crowd of the reaction of UA President Dr. Robert Witt and various UA trustees he knows to the poisoning.

"All these individuals are as upset and concerned about the issue as we are," he said.

Rane said he had just come from Washington with AU President Jay Gogue. He said he has supported both Auburn and Alabama monetarily and in other ways "These two universities represent a huge economic impact for Alabama, our nation and our world," he said. "Neither want our universities represented in this way. We will work together for the benefit of all."